Udenrigsministeriet

SPECIAL REPORT Urbanisation and climate change represent major challenges for cities around the world. Intelligent solutions hold the power to improve sustainability­and­efficiency by ­ collecting and analysing data from the physical environment and inhabitants. Denmark’s trailblazing cities are at the forefront of this transformative change. By Regner Hansen, journalist around the world are getting a head start. Copenhagen, Aarhus, Vejle and other Danish cities are at the forefront of those already implementing the future of urban environments and city services. In November 2014, Copenhagen won the World Smart Cities Award in the Best Project category for the Copenhagen Connecting project. Utilising the collection of digital data, the project creates a green city, improves quality of life and makes the city more attractive for investment. The award was presented at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona. “Danish cities are well-positioned to take advantage of this new city model,” says Bas Boorsma, director for Internet of Everything, North Europe at Cisco Systems, a world leader in the development and sale of networking equipment and systems. According to Boorsma, Danish cities already meet a number of key requirements: political vision, willingness to invest financially in smart city initiatives, adept public administration and strong culture of innovation, including flexibility and the capacity for interdisciplinary collaboration. In the past year, Cisco has established a major innovation presence in Denmark (see page 16). A needed change But what is the driving force behind the development of these digital support services? A primary factor is the continued worldwide exodus from rural to urban areas, increasing the risk of congestion and intensifying the pressure on resources and the environment. Just over half of the world’s population now lives in cities, a figure that is expected to increase to two-thirds by 2050, according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Another key factor is global climate change. The average global temperature is expected to rise by several degrees Celsius by the end of this century if no action is taken; meanwhile, cities account for three-quarters of global carbon emissions according to the UN Environment Programme. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change also warns that sea levels may rise by up to 0.82 metres – a significant change, given that three-quarters of the world’s cities are located near the coast. Meanwhile, the frequency of torrential rains and other extreme weather events continues to grow. “Danish cities are wellpositioned to take advantage of this new city model.” — Bas Boorsma, Cisco Systems I magine receiving a message on your smartphone with specific information about today’s ideal departure time for avoiding heavy traffic on your morning commute to work. And imagine having a pre-assigned, vacant parking space on arrival. If you are cycling, imagine green lights at every intersection if you keep a pace indicated on the cycle path. Imagine that the heating in your home is minimised by adapting to your behavioural patterns – and that the waste container is only emptied when a sensor under the lid registers that it is full. Imagine receiving a text message alert regarding potential torrential rain where you live, so you can close windows and doors and clear the basement floor if there is a risk of flooding. These examples of intelligent solutions for cities are expected to become commonplace worldwide. Meanwhile, a number of cities Summer – autumn 2015 No. 04 | Focus Denmark 5